Aerial bomb protective apparatus



lng'f May 9, 1944. D, HUME 2,348,337

l ERIAL BOMB PROTECTIVE APPARATUS Filed Oct. 19, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet lMay 9, 1944- J. D. HuME 2,348,387

AERIAL BOMB PROTECTIVE APPARATUS Filed Oct. 19, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 72Patented May 9, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AERIAL BOMB PROTECTIVEAPPARATUS John D. Hume, Minneapolis, Minn.

Application October 19, 1940, Serial No. 361,927

1 Claim.

My invention relates to apparatus for protecting streets, buildings,ships, supplies. etc.l from aerial bombs in warfare.

It is an object of my invention to provide a comparatively simple, buthighly efficient protective netting structure which may be stretched fora desired distance or area above buildings, highways, ships and otherpoints where human lives or supplies and ammunition are in danger.

More specifically, it is an object to provide a yielding or resilientnetwork construction adapted to be mounted, if desired, at highaltitudes and constructed to have a minimum tendency to detonateexplosive bombs.

A further object is the provision of such protective structure whereinthe bomb-receiving network is readily replaceable in relatively smallunits, and wherein the rnc-sh of the netting cannot be stretched orenlarged to permit an object of larger size to force its Waytherethrough.

Still a further object is the provision of a strongly re-enorcedprotective network supported by a simple upstanding frame andconstructed to be quickly and readily set up or taken down.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will more fullyappear from the following description made in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to thesame parts throughout the views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail view showing the connection of thenetting units-with the supporting cables, the interconnection of saidunits and the non-stretchable weaving construction of the nettingproper, and

Fig. 4 is a detail cross section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, an upright framework isprovided comprising a plurality of elongated, upright posts 6 shown asconstructed from rigid metal pipe and spaced apart and arranged in theoutline of a closed geometrical figure such as a rectangle, triangle,circle, ellipse or the like. These supporting posts are, of course,securely anchored at their lower ends, not shown, and are bracedadjacent their upper ends by crossed bars shown in the form of pipes 1,as shown connected by four-way threaded couplings 8 with posts 8. Shortpost extensions also, as shown in the form oi pipes 6a, extendvertically above posts 6 and, as shown, are

threadedly connected with the couplings 8. These post extensions may bebraced by diagonal brace rods 9 which, as shown, have bent extremitiespassing through bores drilled through the pipes and secured to therespective pipes 6a and 'l by suitable means such as threaded nuts 8a.

As shown, a main netting-frame-supporting cable l0 is supported from theseveral post extensions Ga, passing through suitable eyes Il in the formof eye bolts, as shown secured to the upper ends of extension posts 6aand arranged on the inner sides of said posts to define a geometricalligure.

A single elongated cable lll is preferred to permit uniform adjustmentat all parts of the netting, although, of course, a number of supportingcables may be used between the several posts, if desired. Additionalnetting-supporting elements are formed by crossed, spaced series ofcables l2 and I3, said cables extending between opposing post extensionsEa and being, as shown, secured to eye bolts which may be the same eyebolts Il through which the main-supportingcable ill is passed. Thesecrossed-supportingcables I2 and I3 constitute a strong, very coarsenetwork upon which the bomb-receiving network is supported. The cablesl0, l2 and i3, as well as the network, sag somewhat and are purposelyconstructed to so sag, although the drawings do not indicate suchsagging.

The bomb-receiving netting is made up of a multiplicity of connectibleand readily replaceable units, indicated as entireties by the numeralI4. Each unit, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, comprises a flexible, closedframe 14a preferably constructed of cable or heavy wire and a network Mbcomposed of a number of bent wires or semiflexible rods interwoven toprevent enlargement or stretching of the several meshes formed.

The several wires or rods Mb, as shown in Fig. 3, are rst bent atsubstantially right angles at points a to embrace and interlock withright angular bends b of an adjacent rod. The first mentioned rods arethen bent at right angles in the opposite direction from the firstbending to form the bends or points D for engagement with the adjacentrods, and the bending and reversed bending is continued until theextremities of the rods extend past the netting structure in positionfor attachment to the exible cable frame Ma. In other words, themultiplicity of rods forming the netting are of zig-zag shape,preferably bent at substantially right angles, alternate rods in thenetting units being disposed in parallel relation, and the rods betweensaid alternate rods being disposed in complementary relationship withsaid alternate rods and with the angles or elbows of the zig-zag forminterlocked with the elbows of the rst mentioned alternate rods.

As shown, these extremities of the rods are provided with eyes c whichare swingably connected with the shanks of hooks I5, said hooks engagingand embracing the flexible frame or cable 14a to secure the nettingproper thereto.

The units comprising exible frame members Ma with the netting [4battached thereto are detachably connected together and to the mainnetting-supporting-cable l by means of double hook members i6 havingstraight body portions and a hook at each extremity thereof. Thesedouble hook members secure portions of the frame Ma of the outermostunits to the main networksupporting-cable 50 and other portions of theframes of the units to the frames of the adjacent units.

The entire network construction, including the widely spacedcrossed-supporting-cables l2 and i3, as well as the mainnetworksupporting-cable IU and the cable and wire construction of thenetting units provide a substantial yieldability and resiliency to thestructure.

In use the netting construction is positioned at some considerabledistance above the area or thing to be protected and may be disposed ina generally horizontal position or inclined to the horizont-a1 to suitspecic requirements. When an aerial bomb drops upon the nettingconstruction, it in most instances strikes one of the bent wire or rodnetting units Mb which, with the separate rods, the frame cable la, thesupporting-crossedcables l2 and cable Hl, readily yields, greatlycushioning the impact of the bomb and stopping and collecting the same.The resiliency of the parts specified, if the network is stretched at aninclined angle to the horizontal, may be used to cause the bomb torebound 0r deect the same away from the objects protected. if desired.

Due to the resiliency of the network construction and to the bent wires|417 of very small diameter, there is little chance of a bomb beingdetonated by its impact against the network.

Furthermore, because of the woven structure of the bent rods or wires Hbthe meshes of the network units formed cannot be enlarged or stretched,as with most Woven wire, to permit passage of a bomb or other articletherethrough. By an inspection of Fig. 3 it will be seen that attemptedstretching or arcuate bending of any one side of the rectangle forming amesh opening through connection with adjacent rods, prevents distortionof any of the sides of said rectangle. This is important in a protectiveconstruction of this type.

It will further be seen that the upright elevated frame for my nettingis strong, durable and efficiently re-enforced adjacent thenetwork-supporting-extensions 6a of the posts.

If one or more netting sections i4 are injured by the impact orexplosion of an aerial bomb, they may be readily replaced by detachingthe double hook members i6 and installing a new section or sections.With my improved structure, therefore, no substantial area. of theprotective netting can be destroyed at one time, and the destruction, ifany, can be quickly replaced.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided asimple, efficient and improved protective apparatus for protectingbuildings, ships, troops, ammunition and other things from aerial bombattack.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made inthe form, details, arrangement and proportions of the various partswithout departing from the scope of my invention.

What is claimed is:

Aerial bomb protective apparatus comprising, a network-supporting-frame,a series of widely spaced reinforcing exible elements supported fromsaid frame, and a layer of flexible netting secured to said frame andsupported on said ilexible elements, said layer of netting being made upof a plurality of readily replaceable netting units, and quickdetachable means for connecting said units together.

JOHN D. HUME.

